Stromanthe plant named ‘Valmic’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Stromanthe  plant named ‘Valmic’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely basally clumping growth habit; and large green and creamy white-colored leaves with purple-colored lower surfaces.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Stromanthe sanguinea cultivar Valmic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Stromanthe plant, botanically known as Stromanthe sanguinea, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Valmic’.

The new Stromanthe was discovered by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Honselersdijk, The Nertherlands in 1999, as a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Stromanthe sanguinea cultivar Stripestar, not patented. The new Stromanthe was observed as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of the cultivar Stripestar. The selection of this plant was based on its unique foliage coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new Stromanthe by divisions in a controlled environment in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands since 1999 has shown that the unique features of this new Stromanthe are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Valmic’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Valmic’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Valmic’ as a new and distinct Stromanthe cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely basally clumping growth habit.     -   3. Large green and creamy white-colored leaves with         purple-colored lower surfaces.

Plants of the new Stromanthe are most similar to plants of the parent cultivar Stripestar; however plants of the new Stromanthe differ from plants of the cultivar Stripestar primarily in leaf coloration as leaves of plants of the cultivar Stripestar are solid green in color with greyed green-colored midveins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Stromanthe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Stromanthe.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Valmic’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Valmic’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Maasland, The Netherlands, under commercial practice during the winter in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were about 22° C. and night temperatures were about 20° C. Plants were grown with one plant per 17-cm container. Plants were about 20 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Stromanthe sanguinea cultivar Valmic. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Stromanthe     sanguinea cultivar Stripestar, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By divisions.         -   Root description.—Dense, freely branching and white in             color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit;             broadly inverted triangle; freely basally clumping growth             habit, about nine clumps per plant; bushy and moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 80 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 105 cm.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, single. Quantity per clump:             About seven. Length: About 42.9 cm. Width: About 9.8 cm.             Shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Obtuse to             truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous, smooth; leathery; lateral veins prominent on upper             surface. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: 147A with random spots, streaks and             blotches, 147D to 158A to 158B. Developing leaves, lower             surface: N186C to 187A with random spots, streaks and             blotches, 185B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Between 136A and 139A with random spots, streaks and             blotches, 148D to 158A to 158B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: N186C to 187A with random spots, streaks and             blotches, 185B. Venation, upper surface: Midvein, 143A;             lateral veins same as lamina. Venation, lower surface:             Midvein, 183A; lateral veins, N186A. Petiole: Length: About             44.6 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 mm. Color: Between 152A and             N199C. Geniculum length: About 3.6 mm. Geniculum width:             About 5 mm. Geniculum color: Between 152A and N199C. Wing             length: About 25.9 cm. Wing width: About 6 mm. Wing color,             upper and lower surfaces: 182B to 182C. -   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on     plants of the new Stromanthe. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Stromanthe have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Stromanthe. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Stromanthe plant named ‘Valmic’, as illustrated and described. Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Stromanthe have been observed to tolerate temperatures from 15 to 30° C. 